Douche



Dec. 8, 1942.

c. RlTTER.

DOUCHE Filed Sept. 12, 1940 Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES pATgfNTj nouonn Harry G. Bitter, Jersey Shore, Pa., assignor of one-tenth toHarold F. French, Troy, Pa., onetenth to Jacob F. Matthews,Williamsport, Pa., two-tenths to John C. Patchen and Gertrude H.Patchen, Cogan Station, Pa., one-twentieth to Charles K. Derr,one-twentieth to Howard S. Reese, one-tenth to Lewis 0. Tirrell, all ofWil iiamsport, Pa., one-tenthto Wilbur B. Grossman, Oanaseraga, N. "-Y.,and one-tenth to Edward J. Corson, Jersey Shore, Pa.

Application September 12, 1940, serializ 356,554 2 Claims. 91. 128-226)"The invention relates to syringes and particularly those adapted for useas rectal and vaginal douches, and has for an object to present asyringe of the water-bag type having special advantages in use, forproducing at will a hydro-,

static head in the nozzle either less or greater than that resultingfrom the more action of gravity on the content of the bag.

While I am aware of hand-pressed bag fountain reservoir devices forproducing pressures in,

syringe nozzles, it is an aim of the present invention to present aconstruction in such devices whereby a comparatively large capacitycollapsible reservoir may be utilized with advantages in Y. that respectover prior devices, and also one in;

ject to present a large capacity'reservoir device which does not requirea special support, but may be suspended on the person of the user, andparticularly one adapted to be specially located on the body so thatuseful massage may be attained at the same time that a douche or othersyringe treatment is administered.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in theembodiment of the invention, as will more fully appear and be understoodfrom the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure1 is a front elevation of the reservoir body and syringe. I

Figure 2 is a detail of the closure in vertical section.

Figure 3 is a front view of a modification of the reservoir body.

Figure 4 is an edge View of the reservoir body and showing also themodification of Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross section of the stopper lever mounting.

There is illustrated a flexible rubber bottle or bag type of reservoirl0, having an enlarged mouth Ii, including a neck portion I2 nearly orquite cylindrical and made with thickened walls adapted to hold themouth in form and tapered in thickness downwardly so as to merge intothe walls I 3 and l 4 'of the reservoir at back and front,

The bag portion is suitably enlarged to adapt it to hold the desiredquantity of liquid, according to themes to which it is to be applied,and at the lower end is formed with an integral outlet nipple 5 withsuitably thickened and filleted walls into which there is inserted aferrule duct 16, onto which the usual hose of any desired length isfrictionally engaged. At the extremity of the hose a nozzle i8 isindicated, having a properly shaped tenon end inserted in the hose. Thenozzle is of course removable and replaceable with other shapes adaptedto the several uses or treatments required.

The bag element has a structure such that its front and back walls tendto lie initially in parallel spaced relation, substantially as in Figure4, and has also a somewhat thickened upper lateral edge portion is ateach side where the front and back walls of the bag join, and on theseexternal ears are formed respectively, these cars being suitablyapertured to receive suspension devices such as the hooks 2| shown inFigure 1, to which respective ends of an adjustably extensible strap 22are attached. The strap may be formed in two parts connected adjustablyby a buckle 23, or other connection.

The mouth or interior of the neck is interiorly threaded with largethreads as at 24, and the mouth is closed by means of an externallythreaded stopper 25 conforming to the shape 'of the mouth. The walls ofthe mouth or neck are interiorly sloped, the opening being smaller atthe lower or inner part, so that as the stopper is screwed thereinto itbecomes tightly wedged in the opening, and so effects a secure closure.

In the present instance the stopper is formed with a port 26therethrough having a conical seat 21 at the inner side and there isprovided a corresponding valve 28 of rubber or metal adapted to fit. theseat and having a metal stem 29 extended therefrom longitudinallyoutward and above the top side of the stopper. A spider piece 313 isengaged or integrally formed on the outer' part of the port, this spiderbeing centrally apertured to receive the stem 29 slidably therethrough.The upper end of the stem 29 is transversely apertured, and pivoted inthe furcated end of a valve lever 3| which is so shaped that when thelever is moved to an opened position transverse to the stem 29 it maylie closely over the top face of the stopper 25, with the valve relievedfrom and spaced from the seat 21, so that air may flow into thereservoir through the port. The outer end portions of the lever adjacentthe pivot are formed with cam portions 32, of a greater radius than thatbetween the axis of the valve 28 thereby be lifted and held snugly toits seat, closing off the access of air to the reservoir. The high faces33 of the cam are also preferably flattened so that the lever will tendto remain in valve-closing position and slightly oppose movement towardopened position. If the stopper body is also made of moderatelyresilient rubber and the spider faced withmetal 34 under the lever, andthe lever made of rigid material, the passage of the corners on the camportion will cause the valve to slightlycompressthe material of thestopper, which will then expand again after passage of the corners pastdead center relation to the pivot, and so hold the lever erect and thevalve properly seated. By extending the metal up beside the lever,forming ears 35, and anchoring the metal 34 to the stopper in approvedfashion, the lever may be used as a lever or wing to screwand unscrewthe stopper 25.

The efficiency of the cleansing action of the douche is in manyinstances enhanced by intermittent surges of liquid from the nozzle, andthis may be efiected, it will be readily appreciated, by intermittentmanual pressure upon the bag and relief of the manual pressure.

It should be appreciated that in the use of the reservoir directly uponthe abdomen, a massage effect is produced that is beneficial in manyconditions,,and also, in case a warm liquid is employed in thetreatment, the Warmth applied over the abdomen is also beneficial inmany conditions which would also involve treatment with the douche. Inaddition, the useris protected from becoming chilled.

In the use of the device as described, the strap 22 is adjusted so thatit may be engaged around the neck of the user, to hold the reservoir inposition on a level with and resting against the abdomen, or it may beadjusted higher, so as to rest thereabove, or over the chest, or thestrap may be adjusted to such length at it may extend voir, due to thelatter tending to hold its distended position, and the decanting of theliquid now is opposed by atmospheric pressure. The reservoir being hungin proper position, the nozzle 13 is properly placed, and the user thenpresses against the outer wall of the reservoir so that the reservoirbecomes compressed between the body of the user and the hand or hands.If the reservoir is placed against the abdomen the pressure thereagainstmaybe exerted by pressing the palms and wrists, or both forearms againstthe bag, either being a normal and natural action of a person, andcorresponding to pressure of the hands or arms against the abdomen, asso often is done by human beings. Such pressures will cause an expulsionof the contents of the reservoir with a force at the nozzle directlycorresponding to the pressure exerted against the sides of thereservoir. If it the pressure on the reservoir is relieved and thereservoir allowed to expand, the valve 28 being left closed.

If it is desired to utilize simply the force of gravity in efiecting thedischarge of the liquid content of the reservoir through the nozzle, thelever 3| is raised to vertical position for as long as such discharge isdesired. The reservoir may be refilled from time to time withoutinterrupting the flow therefrom induced by gravity, by simply unscrewingthe stopper 25, and pouring the proper liquid into the mouth of thereservoir while it is suspended on the person of the user, and byreplacing the stopper and closing the valve the content may be ejectedby application of pressure to the reservoir as described, at any time.When it is desired to discontinue a treatment, the lever Si is raised toclose the valve,

after which the nozzle may be removed and the whole equipment carried tosome convenient point for discharge of the remainder of the content ofthe reservoir and for cleansing of the apparatus. voir may be effectedby simply opening the valve by lowering of the lever 3 I.

If desired, fingerholds may be'provided on the Walls of the reservoir,to facilitate its compression, and if desired to aid or effect itsexpansion for causing suction through the nozzle. In Figures 3 and .4finger stalls 40 are indicated secured upon the front wall of thereservoir in the form of loops of a serpentine strap, affordingrespective openings 4| for the insertion of the fingers of the user,while upon the back wall a thumb loop or stall 42 is provided, one ofeach of these being provided and secured on the lateral portions of oneWall of the reservoir, so that the fingers are properly spaced tocompress a large area of the wall portion, and also so that when theuser exerts an effort to move the fingers and thumbs from each other,the walls will be pulled outwardly from each other, expanding the bag.

If desired, the reservoir may be formed with the ordinary structurefamiliar in fountain syringe reservoirs. That is to say, the walls maybe extremely flexible and tending to collapse, into close parallelrelation, in which event the device will not have a function of abarometric chamber, nor will it tend to draw back liquid through thenozzle. Such a reservoir may otherwise be used the same as abovedescribed.

It should be noted that the walls of the reservoir are formed withcentral'thickened or otherwise stiffened parts 36 which tend to remainin planiform, in the present instance, although other forms may bechosen as desired, and these are extended and attenuated, as inwardlycurved mutually convergent parts 31, which are joined to each other'inthe medial plane of the reservoir. The thin parts 31 are also so formedas to tend to regain their divergent relation, so as to hold the wallparts 36 spaced apart, but readily yieldable to manual pressure on theparts 36, which may be exerted by compressing the two wall parts 26between the: thumb and finger of one hand, or the thumb and fingers ofboth hands, applied at opposite edges of the reservoir below or adjacentthe ears 20.

While I have described with great particularity the specific embodimentof the invention,

it will be understood thatthis is purely exem plary, and that variouschanges in construction, arrangement, proportion of parts, andsubstitution of equivalents may be made in the device without departingfrom the spirit of the inven- Decanting or emptying of the reser tion asmore particularly set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. A douche device consisting of a flexible reservoir having a fillingopening and a discharge outlet including a hose and nozzle, a pressureretaining closure for said filling opening, said reservoir being formedwith two main walls including central parallel thickened parts andmutually convergent and joined flexible and resilient edge portionstending to hold said thickened parts at a predetermined spaced relation,ears formed at opposite lateral edges of the reservoir adjacent theupper part thereof, a suspension loop device having its ends attached tothe ears, one of said thickened walls having a plurality offinger-receiving stalls positioned inwardly 0f the outer edge portionsof the douche bag, and the other thickened wall having respectivethumbreceiving stalls.

2. A douche device consisting of a flexible reservoir having a fillingopening and a discharge outlet including a hose and nozzle, 2, pressureretaining closure for said filling opening, said reservoir being formedwith two main walls including central parallel thickened parts andmutually convergent and joined flexible and resilient edge portionstending to hold said thickened parts at a predetermined spaced relation,ears formed at opposite lateral edges of the reservoir adjacent theupper part thereof, a suspension loop device having its ends attached tothe ears, one of said thickened walls having a plurality of fingerreceiving stalls positioned inwardly orthe outer edge portions of thedouche bag, the open ends of which lie in a plane parallel to a verticalaxis of the douche, and the other thickened wall having a pair of stallspositioned at a point for accommodation of respective thumbs of a user.

HARRY C. RI'I'IER.

